Presidential hopeful and businessman Azruddin Mohamed has made it clear he has nothing to hide regarding the 2021 murder of gold dealer Ricardo Fagundes, known as “Paper Shorts.” On the evening of March 21, 2021 Fagundes was gunned down outside Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown. Witnesses and CCTV captured two gunmen who shot Fagundes approximately 20 times, leaving behind 30 spent shells—16 from an AK‑47, 14 from a 9mm pistol. Mere hours later, investigators found a burnt-out white Toyota Fielder, confirmed to be the getaway vehicle.
In a press release issued yesterday, Mohamed, responded to a wave of allegations against him, rejected claims ranging from moral misconduct to criminal activity, and publicly invited an impartial investigation into the accusations.
Mohamed lamented being forced to divert attention away from campaign issues to defend what he described as “baseless claims designed to damage my reputation.”
Mohamed pointed out that he was never named a suspect or person of interest in relation to the alleged murder of Fagundes, citing a September 2022 report by the Regional Security System (RSS) and confirmation by the Guyana Police Force. “I strongly reject these actions,” Mohamed said, reiterating that “I have never been named a person of interest or a suspect in any murder investigation.”
The Opposition and sections of civil society had criticized the police response to the investigation and called for an independent international probe. Detective Sergeant Dion Bascom had publicly accused senior officers in the Force of corruption and covering up the murder. These claims fueled calls for transparency.
Meanwhile, the RSS, in a report the left more questions than answers, said it found no evidence of wrongdoing on the police’s part, and recommended support for Guyana’s forensic lab to strengthen future investigations
Mohamed has accused the governing PPP of orchestrating a smear campaign through their associates, intending to undermine his credibility in the upcoming September 1, 2025 General and Regional elections, and called on his supporters to remain vigilant. He said, “These attacks are politically motivated, planned by the threatened PPP, and carried out by their associates to push false narratives.”
He outlined a series of alleged intimidation tactics aimed at damaging his campaign, including:
- Defamation of his family in the media
- Interference with visits to indigenous communities
- False accusations of tax evasion
- Baseless rape allegations
- The revived and unfounded murder accusations
“I call on all Guyanese to remain vigilant and support a fair election process, one that is void of political mischief and abuse of power,” Mohamed urged, asserting his openness to any “fair and credible investigation” that can clear his name and allow him to focus on policy goals.
He reiterated his commitment to transparency and urged voters to demand fair treatment for all candidates regardless of their political affiliations. Mohamed’s appeal highlights growing concerns over allegations of political intimidation and the weaponization of legal and media platforms.
